# Unexpected File Format - Recover please **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Tags:** sketchup\ **Created:** [December 22, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696 "2021-12-22T13:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lewis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lewis](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Lewis)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/1 "2021-12-22T13:59:52Z")
[塔楼su组件.zip](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/An6uNBa4AsGACBi3vblzVkMPZdo.zip) (7.8 MB) hi there, my files cant be open, it come out this unexpected file format. so anyone can recover my file ? ---
**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/2 "2021-12-22T14:31:07Z")
I couldn’t recover anything in the scene, but this has the materials and components recovered. [塔楼su组件\_recovered.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/w6DD6EgfD6IvyJ3gtaqZRMzCvch.skp) (9.0 MB) ---
**Author:** ![Lewis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lewis](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Lewis)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/3 "2021-12-22T14:40:14Z")
Okay, it looks like it’s impossible to save 😭 😭 😭, but thank you for your efforts！ ---
**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/4 "2021-12-22T14:41:24Z")
The file is a lot smaller, so there may have been a lot of loose geometry in the scene, or perhaps grouped. Any components should be in the recovered file. ---
**Author:** ![Lewis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lewis](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Lewis)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:43pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/5 "2021-12-22T14:43:58Z")
There seems to be nothing in the recovered file 😭 ---
**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/6 "2021-12-22T14:48:06Z")
There is nothing in the scene, but look in the Components and Materials trays. ---
**Author:** ![Lewis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lewis](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Lewis)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/7 "2021-12-22T15:03:09Z")
Successfully retrieved most of the models! ! ! Thank you so so so so much,！！！this is what makes me most happy this month! 🤩 🤩 🤩 ---
**Author:** ![Jelo03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jelo03](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Jelo03)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/8 "2025-11-01T07:26:39Z")
hello my skp file also has the same issue it says unexpected file format, is it possible to recover it?? ---
**Author:** ![dezmo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/dezmo/32/51058_2.png) [@dezmo](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/dezmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 8:15am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/9 "2025-11-01T08:15:51Z")
No one has a chance to tell you how likely it is to recover your file until you share that particular file. ---
**Author:** ![Jelo03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jelo03](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Jelo03)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/10 "2025-11-01T08:27:46Z")
Sorry here is the skp file link thank you! [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1POYepTDack6BBBFcJHNM5WHqcTEiO9S7/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1POYepTDack6BBBFcJHNM5WHqcTEiO9S7/view?usp=sharing) ---
**Author:** ![dezmo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/dezmo/32/51058_2.png) [@dezmo](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/dezmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 8:44am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/11 "2025-11-01T08:44:18Z")
I see the file is created in Sketchup 23.0.397. Since there are an updates for that main version, as well as newer versions… I assuming you are using a cr\_acked Sketchup software. If it is the case please obtain a legal version and you will be able to open your file also. I was able to open it in SU2026 which automatically repaired it. ---
**Author:** ![Jelo03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jelo03](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Jelo03)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/12 "2025-11-01T09:55:06Z")
Can you upload the repaired file? are u able to save in lower version so i can try to open again? or i need to update my sketchup to latest version? ---
**Author:** ![dezmo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/dezmo/32/51058_2.png) [@dezmo](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/dezmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/13 "2025-11-01T10:10:30Z")
Are you using c r a c k e d version of Sketchup 2023? (By the way, since Sketchup 2021, Sketchup can open newer versions of Sketchup files. And since 2024 - officially - you can’t save to an older version.) ---
**Author:** ![Jelo03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jelo03](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Jelo03)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 10:14am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/14 "2025-11-01T10:14:25Z")
no but i will download the latest version if it needs to open it ---
**Author:** ![Jelo03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jelo03](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Jelo03)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 10:17am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/15 "2025-11-01T10:17:19Z")
can you upload the repaired file? ---
**Author:** ![dezmo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/dezmo/32/51058_2.png) [@dezmo](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/dezmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 10:40am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-recover-please/184696/16 "2025-11-01T10:40:28Z")
Well, the file can be opened also a in a legal version of the latest SU2023 (Build 23.1.340. ) The fact you still using Build 23.0.397 and you don’t want to update, for me means it was not obtained from a legal source. Go to your Sketchup, open Menu\>\>Help\>\>Welcome to Sketchup.., and navigate to Licensing tab (lover left corner). Make a screenshot, that you have a)Subscription Plan: Subscription status: Active or b)Classic License: Licensed to… and share that screenshots here.